Prevalence rate of obesity in adults in Malawi
Malawi: Prevalence rate of obesity in adults was 8.0% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Prevalence rate of obesity in adults in Malawi, 1980–2024
Source: World Health Organization – Global Health Observatory (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
Malawi recorded 8.0% for prevalence rate of obesity in adults in 2024. That is the highest value across all 45 years on record.
That represents a change of up 4.6% on the previous year and up 60.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, prevalence rate of obesity in adults in Malawi peaked at 8.0% in 2024 and was at its lowest, 0.7%, in 1980.
Malawi ranks 184th of 199 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Prevalence rate of obesity in adults in Malawi, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 0.7% | — |
| 1981 | 0.8% | +3.9% |
| 1982 | 0.8% | +4.1% |
| 1983 | 0.8% | +4.3% |
| 1984 | 0.9% | +4.5% |
| 1985 | 0.9% | +4.6% |
| 1986 | 1.0% | +4.8% |
| 1987 | 1.0% | +4.7% |
| 1988 | 1.1% | +5.0% |
| 1989 | 1.1% | +5.3% |
| 1990 | 1.2% | +5.5% |
| 1991 | 1.3% | +5.6% |
| 1992 | 1.3% | +5.7% |
| 1993 | 1.4% | +5.8% |
| 1994 | 1.5% | +6.0% |
| 1995 | 1.6% | +6.2% |
| 1996 | 1.7% | +6.4% |
| 1997 | 1.8% | +6.6% |
| 1998 | 1.9% | +6.8% |
| 1999 | 2.0% | +7.0% |
| 2000 | 2.2% | +7.0% |
| 2001 | 2.3% | +7.0% |
| 2002 | 2.5% | +7.0% |
| 2003 | 2.7% | +6.9% |
| 2004 | 2.8% | +6.7% |
| 2005 | 3.0% | +6.5% |
| 2006 | 3.2% | +6.3% |
| 2007 | 3.4% | +6.1% |
| 2008 | 3.6% | +5.9% |
| 2009 | 3.8% | +5.6% |
| 2010 | 4.0% | +5.5% |
| 2011 | 4.3% | +5.4% |
| 2012 | 4.5% | +5.4% |
| 2013 | 4.7% | +5.3% |
| 2014 | 5.0% | +5.3% |
| 2015 | 5.2% | +5.3% |
| 2016 | 5.5% | +5.2% |
| 2017 | 5.8% | +5.1% |
| 2018 | 6.1% | +4.9% |
| 2019 | 6.4% | +4.8% |
| 2020 | 6.7% | +4.8% |
| 2021 | 7.0% | +4.7% |
| 2022 | 7.3% | +4.6% |
| 2023 | 7.6% | +4.6% |
| 2024 | 8.0% | +4.6% |
Malawi compared with similar countries
- Malawi's 8.0% is below the median for low income countries, which is 9.5%, 84% of the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Malawi's 8.0% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 12.7%, 63% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 0.9% | 0.7% | 1.1% | 10 |
| 1990s | 1.6% | 1.2% | 2.0% | 10 |
| 2000s | 3.0% | 2.2% | 3.8% | 10 |
| 2010s | 5.1% | 4.0% | 6.4% | 10 |
| 2020s | 7.3% | 6.7% | 8.0% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Malawi
More health data for Malawi
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -0.8368 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.9312 % change on previous year (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 6,399 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 2 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate 1.61 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per capita 0.0714 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 1.63 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per capita 0.0718 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is prevalence rate of obesity in adults in Malawi?
- Prevalence rate of obesity in adults in Malawi was 8.0% in 2024, according to World Health Organization – Global Health Observatory (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest prevalence rate of obesity in adults recorded in Malawi?
- The highest recorded value was 8.0% in 2024.
- What is the lowest prevalence rate of obesity in adults recorded in Malawi?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.7% in 1980.
- How does Malawi rank for prevalence rate of obesity in adults?
- Malawi ranks 184th out of 199 countries with data for 2024.
- Is prevalence rate of obesity in adults rising or falling in Malawi?
- Over the last ten years it is up 60.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Malawi data come from?
- The figures come from World Health Organization – Global Health Observatory (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Prevalence rate of obesity in adults. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Estimated prevalence of obesity in adults, based on general population surveys and statistical modeling. Obesity is a risk factor for chronic complications, including cardiovascular disease, and premature death.